Outlook: Dover lost two strong pitchers to graduation, including ace Kylie McFadden, now pitching at St. Joseph's College in Maine. The Green Wave return seven starters and could make another strong run in D-I if they can get solid pitching from Molly St. Germain and/or Mikaela Leighton. “Our offense will be one of the strongest in the league,” said coach Dudley. Schoenbucher, Schlapak and Deyo will be the heart the of the lineup. Boduch is a strong shortstop. “The big thing is the pitching,” Dudley said. “They are not quite where Kylie was.”

Outlook: Pitching is the great equalizer and the Red Raiders have all three of theirs back, led by all-state pick West. Spaulding did lose some strong seniors, but some promising new faces and some solid returning players should make the team a playoff contender once again. “The nice thing is that we are young, but we have experience,” said coach Colson. “Kids can play multiple positions. We have a lot of depth. We are going to be pretty strong defensively.”

Outlook: The experienced Bears lost just one player from the 2013 D-II finalist team, so on paper the expectation is they will be the team to beat. Daudelin is as good a pitcher as there is in D-II and with a total of 10 players back there is a ton of playoff experience. “We need to stay healthy and stay humble,” said coach Tenasco. “We can't get complacent and overconfident. The kids understand the expectation.”

Outlook: The Knights lost just two players to graduation and only one starter. Work ethic has been good and there is plenty of experience for Kingswood to make a run at a playoff berth. “Our defense has to be solid so we don't give teams more than three outs per inning,” said coach Christy. “The offense has to be more precise when executing in certain situations to be a true playoff team. We hope this all comes together and this season is a success.”

Outlook: The Bobcats have not won a game in at least five years, but likely longer. The pieces may be in place to change all that. Last year, OR was on the verge of winning three or four games. The pitching should be solid, but the key is playing defense and finding some offense. “We're clearly not a team with a strong track record,” said coach Miller. “We're not going to worry about the end of the season and the record. We'll just focus on getting better every day. We feel pretty strongly we can be competitive.”

Outlook: After an 0-5 start in 2013, the Clippers regrouped to win their final seven and host a first-round playoff game. The loss to Trinity was a downer. Portsmouth hopes to pick up where it left off last season in the regular season. “The returning players have come ready to play,” said coach Grenon. “The key is keeping healthy.”

Outlook: The Tigers enjoyed their best season in the NHIAA era, advancing to the semis and giving No. 1 White Mountains a fright. It could be tough to match that success this year as three key seniors graduated and another three starters decided not to play. But ace pitcher Thompson is back and she is one of the best in D-III. Coach Morse would like to shift Moody from catcher to third base or shortstop to shore up the infield. Farmington will likely keep the scores low, but needs to find offense.

Outlook: Expectations have risen for the Timberwolves, who advanced to the quarterfinals last year and return nine players this year. Prospect is strong defensively and the pitching is very good. Hitting is the question mark. “If hitting comes along with the defense, we'll be a solid team,” said coach Burley. “We're hoping it will be a good season.”

Outlook: Donnell replaces coaching legend Jack Brown, who stepped down after 34 years. The cupboard is hardly bare, despite the loss of five seniors. Fowler developed into a very solid pitcher. The infield will be very solid. The team is young with five players sophomore or younger. “The biggest challenge we will face is not to be our own worst enemy,” said Donnell, a graduate of Spaulding High School and UMaine-Farmington.

Nute

Coach/year: Phil Mollica, 15th

2013 record/playoffs: 6-9, lost in D-IV first round at Moultonborough.

Outlook: The Rams return eight players with experience from a team that was in a lot of games. Pitching will be key and it should get better with Burke and Alisha Flanagan. “We'll go as far as our pitching,” Mollica said. “It is improved and they throw more strikes. We've competed well the last two years. I expect that to be the same. We're hoping to take another step.”

Outlook: PCA will be young (10 sophomores or freshmen), but it could surprise in D-IV if it stays healthy. Alicia Vining, its top pitcher, was not healthy last season, but is good to go in 2014. “We have very strong pitching depth, and the infield defense and hitting is very good,” said coach Vining. “We're looking to go deep in the playoffs.”

Outlook: Last season was a pleasant surprise for the Bulldogs, who did not know what they had entering the season. Expectations will be higher in 2014 with eight starters back, including Foster's player of the year Lyman. There is more pitching depth and the offense should be even better. “We're excited to get going,” said coach Sanborn. “We have high hopes. We're not the deepest team with 12 players. No one is going to wipe us out.”

Marshwood

Coach/year: Renee Caverly, ninth.

2013 record/playoffs: 9-8-1, lost in Western Maine Class A quarters to Scarborough.

Outlook: The Hawks lost veteran pitcher Nicole Harvey and slugging third baseman Sammy Crosman to graduation, but have 10 players regulars back from a playoff team. Pitching will be the big question mark, replacing Harvey. Coach Caverly feels there is some power in the bats, some excellent athleticism and experience on defense. If Robida can deliver on the mound, Marshwood will compete again in Western A.

Noble

Coach/year: Rick Melanson, 20th.

2013 record/playoffs: 12-4, lost in Western Maine Class A quarters to Thornton Academy.

Outlook: The Knights should once again be a tournament team, led by four-year pitching stalwart, Kelly. The key will be replacing four starters, three of whom played third base, shortstop and second base. Cormier, Taylor, Bailey and Kelly will spark the offense, The challenge will be how those three key infield positions are filled. “I'd be very surprised if we didn't make the playoffs,” said coach Melanson.

Outlook: Traip will still be a young team with 11 freshmen or sophomores on the roster, but Andrews and Barrett have the talent to lead the team to the playoffs. Andrews was Western Maine Conference Class C player of the year last year, while Barrett took the honor in 2012. The team will need to hit better and make fewer mistakes, while navigating a schedule made up of mostly Class B teams. “We know how to play the game,” said coach Andrews. We have to control it. Mistakes killed us (last year).”

St. Thomas Aquinas and Somersworth did not respond to multiple requests for preview information.